CA2794065C - Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration - Google Patents
Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2794065C CA2794065C CA2794065A CA2794065A CA2794065C CA 2794065 C CA2794065 C CA 2794065C CA 2794065 A CA2794065 A CA 2794065A CA 2794065 A CA2794065 A CA 2794065A CA 2794065 C CA2794065 C CA 2794065C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- handheld
- client devices
- configuration
- components
- configuration device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 32
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013481 data capture Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002085 persistent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013515 script Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/01—Protocols
- H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
- H04L67/104—Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F8/00—Arrangements for software engineering
- G06F8/60—Software deployment
- G06F8/61—Installation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
- H04L41/0803—Configuration setting
- H04L41/0813—Configuration setting characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
- H04L41/082—Configuration setting characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Software Systems (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
- Stored Programmes (AREA)
- Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
Abstract
A method and a system for configuring of a client device using a configuration device in a peer to peer communication local network including a plurality of client devices, the configuration device including configuration information designated as sharable information. The method comprises generating a discovery request at the configuration device, the discovery request targeted to the plurality of computer devices, in response to the discovery request, generating a request for communication with the configuration device from at least one client device, establishing communication between the configuration device and the client device, assigning, at the configuration device, a group to the at least one client device, identifying, at the configuration device, a selection of components from among the sharable information, the selection of components associated with the assigned group and for downloading to the at least one client device; and downloading, for installation at the client device, the selection of components to the at least one client device of the assigned group.
Description
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROXIIVIITY-BASED, PEER-INITIATED DEVICE CONFIGURATION
Related Applications This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application, patent number 8990361, filed April 23, 2010 and entitled "Method And System For Proximity-Based, Peer-Initiated Device Configuration".
Technical Field = The present invention relates generally to a method and system for configuring a computing device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for configuring a computing device using a proximity-based, peer-initiated approach.
Background Art Computing devices, such as handheld mobile computing devices, have proliferated as their usefulness and functionality have improved and such handheld computers can now provide hinctionalities such as barcocie scanning; digital photo capture;
document _ scanning:- Global Positioning System (CPS) location services; RFD
functions; MPEG
audio layer 3 (MP3) players: a variety of user input means, such as keyboards and/or touch screens and/or sensor inputs such as accelerometers and/or gyroscopes;
and radio frequency-based (RF) communications functionality for voice and/or data. In addition to general consumer handheld computers, ruggedized versions of handheld computers are widely deployed in industrial use, incorporating varying combinations of the above functionalities or others.
Device functionality and use of such computing devices typically evolves and changes subsequent to the initial deployment of a given device. To the extent that an existing lase of already-deployed devices may be reconfigured to provide updated, better or more specialized functionality, while in the field, and without disruption of deployment, such as having to be returned to the factory to be reconfigured, the utility of the computing devices to a user or customer is enhanced.
Relatively commonly, there is a need for provisioning of software components to provide customized device functionality, or improved device functionality, typically within the context of a pre-existing hardware configuration or platform, to be advantageously applied to reconfigure already-deployed devices within their existing operational environments, without necessitating a factory return for upgrading.
Disclosure of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and system for configuring at least one client computer device which obviates or mitigates at least one disadvantage of the prior art.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for configuring at least one client computer device with a configuration computer device in a peer to peer communication local network including a plurality of client computer devices, the configuration computer device including configuration information designated as sharable information. The method comprises generating a discovery request at the configuration computer device, the discovery request targeted to the plurality of client computer devices;
in response to the discovery request, generating a request for communication with the configuration computer device from at least one client computer device;
establishing communication between the configuration computer device and the at least one client computer device; assigning, at the configuration computer device, a group to the at least one client computer device; identifying, at the configuration computer device, a selection of software components from among the sharable information, the selection of software components associated with the assigned group and for downloading to the at least one client computer device; and downloading, for installation at the client computer device, the selection of software components to the at least one client computer device of the assigned group. The method may further comprise installing the selection of software components at the client computer device. The method may further comprise the client computer device reporting to the configuration computer device the results of installing the selection of software components, including an indication of successful software component installations and failed software component installations.
Preferably, the assigned group is associated with a predefined ordering of configuration software components, and downloading comprises downloading the selection of software components according to the predefined order. Also preferably, the method can comprise installing, at the client computer device, the selection of software components according to the predefined order of downloading.
Related Applications This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application, patent number 8990361, filed April 23, 2010 and entitled "Method And System For Proximity-Based, Peer-Initiated Device Configuration".
Technical Field = The present invention relates generally to a method and system for configuring a computing device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for configuring a computing device using a proximity-based, peer-initiated approach.
Background Art Computing devices, such as handheld mobile computing devices, have proliferated as their usefulness and functionality have improved and such handheld computers can now provide hinctionalities such as barcocie scanning; digital photo capture;
document _ scanning:- Global Positioning System (CPS) location services; RFD
functions; MPEG
audio layer 3 (MP3) players: a variety of user input means, such as keyboards and/or touch screens and/or sensor inputs such as accelerometers and/or gyroscopes;
and radio frequency-based (RF) communications functionality for voice and/or data. In addition to general consumer handheld computers, ruggedized versions of handheld computers are widely deployed in industrial use, incorporating varying combinations of the above functionalities or others.
Device functionality and use of such computing devices typically evolves and changes subsequent to the initial deployment of a given device. To the extent that an existing lase of already-deployed devices may be reconfigured to provide updated, better or more specialized functionality, while in the field, and without disruption of deployment, such as having to be returned to the factory to be reconfigured, the utility of the computing devices to a user or customer is enhanced.
Relatively commonly, there is a need for provisioning of software components to provide customized device functionality, or improved device functionality, typically within the context of a pre-existing hardware configuration or platform, to be advantageously applied to reconfigure already-deployed devices within their existing operational environments, without necessitating a factory return for upgrading.
Disclosure of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and system for configuring at least one client computer device which obviates or mitigates at least one disadvantage of the prior art.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for configuring at least one client computer device with a configuration computer device in a peer to peer communication local network including a plurality of client computer devices, the configuration computer device including configuration information designated as sharable information. The method comprises generating a discovery request at the configuration computer device, the discovery request targeted to the plurality of client computer devices;
in response to the discovery request, generating a request for communication with the configuration computer device from at least one client computer device;
establishing communication between the configuration computer device and the at least one client computer device; assigning, at the configuration computer device, a group to the at least one client computer device; identifying, at the configuration computer device, a selection of software components from among the sharable information, the selection of software components associated with the assigned group and for downloading to the at least one client computer device; and downloading, for installation at the client computer device, the selection of software components to the at least one client computer device of the assigned group. The method may further comprise installing the selection of software components at the client computer device. The method may further comprise the client computer device reporting to the configuration computer device the results of installing the selection of software components, including an indication of successful software component installations and failed software component installations.
Preferably, the assigned group is associated with a predefined ordering of configuration software components, and downloading comprises downloading the selection of software components according to the predefined order. Also preferably, the method can comprise installing, at the client computer device, the selection of software components according to the predefined order of downloading.
2 Preferably, the method can further comprise displaying, at a graphical user interface (GUI) display of the configuration computer device, the configuration of software components in the predefined order for downloading, and providing for the modification of the predefined order prior to downloading. Preferably, the software component downloaded includes a software component selected from the group of software components consisting of: a software driver, a software application, a portion of a software application, an application program interface, an operating system version and an operating system identifier.
Preferably, in another aspect of the present invention, the step of establishing communications between the configuration computer device and the client computer device further comprises communicating an informational element for unique identification of the client computer device, the informational element selected from the group of informational elements consisting of: a serial number, an operating system, a device model number, IP and/or MAC addresses, and a terminal name. Also preferably, the discovered client computer device is assigned to at least one group based on its pre-existing hardware and/ or firmware configuration.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for configuring at least one client computer device with a configuration computer device in a peer to peer communication local network including a plurality of client computer devices, comprising: a configuration computer device comprising a discovery module for generating and communicating a discovery request to a plurality of client computer devices in a peer to peer local communication network; a configuration module including configuration information designated as sharable information, the configuration module for:
assigning a group to the at least one client computer device; identifying a selection of software components from the sharable information for download to the at least one client computer device, the selection of software components associated with the assigned group; and downloading the selection of software components to the at least one client computer device of the assigned group.
Preferably, the configuration computer device further comprises a graphical user interface display screen for displaying the identified selection of software components.
Preferably, the client computer device comprises a processor; a memory; a device discovery module for detecting a discovery request initiated at the configuration computer
Preferably, in another aspect of the present invention, the step of establishing communications between the configuration computer device and the client computer device further comprises communicating an informational element for unique identification of the client computer device, the informational element selected from the group of informational elements consisting of: a serial number, an operating system, a device model number, IP and/or MAC addresses, and a terminal name. Also preferably, the discovered client computer device is assigned to at least one group based on its pre-existing hardware and/ or firmware configuration.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for configuring at least one client computer device with a configuration computer device in a peer to peer communication local network including a plurality of client computer devices, comprising: a configuration computer device comprising a discovery module for generating and communicating a discovery request to a plurality of client computer devices in a peer to peer local communication network; a configuration module including configuration information designated as sharable information, the configuration module for:
assigning a group to the at least one client computer device; identifying a selection of software components from the sharable information for download to the at least one client computer device, the selection of software components associated with the assigned group; and downloading the selection of software components to the at least one client computer device of the assigned group.
Preferably, the configuration computer device further comprises a graphical user interface display screen for displaying the identified selection of software components.
Preferably, the client computer device comprises a processor; a memory; a device discovery module for detecting a discovery request initiated at the configuration computer
3 device and for establishing further communication with the configuration computer device;
a device download module for receiving a downloaded selection of software components from the configuration computer device; and a device installation module for installing, in the memory of the client computer device, the downloaded selection of software components from the configuration device. Also preferably, the client device further comprises an update detection module for detecting an update request targeted to a group assigned, by the configuration device, to include the client computer device.
Also preferably, the client computer device updates the installed selection of components. Also preferably, the device discovery module communicates to the configuration computer device an informational element for unique identification of the client computer device, the informational element selected from the group of informational elements consisting of: a serial number, an operating system identifier, a device model number, IP
addresses, and a terminal name.
Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows an example of a peer to peer network communication system, comprising a plurality of computer devices;
Figure 2a is a block diagram showing the functional subsystems of a computer device of Figure 1 including a discovery module and a configuration module;
Figure 2b is a block diagram showing the functional subsystems of a computer device of Figure 1 including a discovery detection module, a download module and an installation module;
Figure 3 is a flowchart of the steps involved in one embodiment in accordance with the present invention for configuring or reconfiguring the client computer device;
and Figure 4 is a flowchart of the steps involved in another embodiment in accordance with the present invention for updating an existing configuration of a client computer device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It would be advantageous to provide for reconfiguration and upgrading of a set of computer devices, in the local environment within which they are deployed, without a need to otherwise disrupt their deployment and usage, such as by returning the units to the
a device download module for receiving a downloaded selection of software components from the configuration computer device; and a device installation module for installing, in the memory of the client computer device, the downloaded selection of software components from the configuration device. Also preferably, the client device further comprises an update detection module for detecting an update request targeted to a group assigned, by the configuration device, to include the client computer device.
Also preferably, the client computer device updates the installed selection of components. Also preferably, the device discovery module communicates to the configuration computer device an informational element for unique identification of the client computer device, the informational element selected from the group of informational elements consisting of: a serial number, an operating system identifier, a device model number, IP
addresses, and a terminal name.
Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows an example of a peer to peer network communication system, comprising a plurality of computer devices;
Figure 2a is a block diagram showing the functional subsystems of a computer device of Figure 1 including a discovery module and a configuration module;
Figure 2b is a block diagram showing the functional subsystems of a computer device of Figure 1 including a discovery detection module, a download module and an installation module;
Figure 3 is a flowchart of the steps involved in one embodiment in accordance with the present invention for configuring or reconfiguring the client computer device;
and Figure 4 is a flowchart of the steps involved in another embodiment in accordance with the present invention for updating an existing configuration of a client computer device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It would be advantageous to provide for reconfiguration and upgrading of a set of computer devices, in the local environment within which they are deployed, without a need to otherwise disrupt their deployment and usage, such as by returning the units to the
4 factory or distributor. It is apparent that depending on the particular functionality needed, and based on the pre-existing hardware configuration, appropriate software/firmware configurations, including appropriate software drivers, software applications, portions of a software application, application program interfaces, parameter settings, or even an operating system versions or an identifier thereof, may be applied to reconfigure and further customize the set of computer devices.
As used herein, the term "computer device" is intended to comprise any computing device which can be configured for use in different manners and which can be communicated with through a computer network. In most circumstances, it is contemplated that the present invention will be of most interest to networks containing mobile computer devices, such as handheld terminals, personal data assistants, smartphones, data capture devices such as barcode scanners, etc. However, the present invention is not so limited and it is contemplated that the invention can be advantageously employed in other configurations and/or circumstances as will occur to those of skill in the art. Similarly, as used herein the term "peer to peer network" is intended to comprise any network which allows a computing device to communicate with one or more other computing devices without requiring the intervention of a centralized control device, although such devices can be present, if desired, as will occur to those of skill in the art. Examples of such networks can include, without limitation, ad hoc WiFi, Bluetooth or other networks.
Referring now more particularly to the accompanying figures, Figure 1 depicts an example of a peer to peer network communication system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention where at least one master, or configuration, device 101 discovers and manages configuration of a plurality of client computer devices 102 within a given locality. The network system 100 of Figure 1, which may be a wireless network, forms a closed local network where at least one computer device, such as configuration device 101, remotely discovers and manages a plurality of computer devices 102.
Configuration device 101 may communicate with the plurality of computer devices 102 using various communication schemes, including, but not limited to, wireless connections via a secure or non-secure Bluetooth (TM), Wi-Fi WLAN based on IEEE 802.11 standards, Zigbee, Z-Wave and the like. Computers 101, 102 will be referred to variously and interchangeably as a computer computing device, a computer device, a mobile computer, or a computing device in the disclosure herein.
Figure 2a illustrates an exemplary architecture of the functional subsystems of configuration device computer 101. The computer 101 may have the capability of communicating at least data, and possibly both data and audio, to and from devices as well as data acquisition sources within a communication network.
Computer 101 may include wired or wireless communication capability. In the wireless configuration, computer 102 typically includes radio frequency (RF) communication subsystem 211, which includes a receiver 212, a transmitter 214, and associated components, such as one or more embedded or internal antenna elements 216 and 218, and a processing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 220. As will be apparent to those skilled in field of communications, the particular design of the RF
communication subsystem 211 depends on the specific communication network in which computer device 101 is intended to operate, but may include communication functionalities such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), Wi-Fi WLAN
based on IEEE
802.11 standards, Zigbee, Z-Wave and the like.
The computer device 101 includes a microprocessor 238 which controls general operation of the device 101. The microprocessor 238 also interacts with functional device subsystems such as screen display module 222, a flash memory 224, random access memory (RAM) 226, auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems 228, serial port 230, keyboard module 232, speaker 234, microphone 236, short-range communications subsystem 240 such as BluetoothTM for example, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) expansion port 242 for peripheral. The computer device 101 may include a power source such as battery module 210 which may also be removable and replaceable from the computer device. The computer device 101 may also include a positioning device 244, such as a GPS receiver for example, for receiving positioning information.
Still with regard to Figure 2a, operating system software used by the microprocessor 238 may be stored in a persistent store such as the flash memory 224, which may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM 226.
The microprocessor 238, in addition to its operating system functions, enables execution of software applications on the computer device 101. A predetermined set of applications, which control basic device operations, or even more customized, advanced device operations, may be installed on the configuration device 101 during its manufacture, such as during the components configuration process described herein. These operations typically include data and voice communication applications, for example.
Display screen module 222 of computer device 101 may be used to visually present an application's graphical user interface (GUI) to the user via a display screen.
The display screen module 222 may employ a touch screen display, in which case the user can manipulate application data by modifying information on the GUI using direct touches by finger. Depending on the type of computer device 101, the user may have access to other types of input devices, such as, for example, a scroll wheel, trackball, light pen or touch sensitive screen.
A graphical user interface presented at display screen module 222 of configuration device 101 may enable an operator or administrator to interact therewith. For example, an administrator may manage the processes of having configuration device 101 being capable of identification as a configuration device using a parameter setting, initiating discovery, establishing communication with client devices in the peer to peer network, managing groups (including assigning groups, modifying groups, and deleting groups), and the selecting the configuration of components and data to be downloaded from configuration device 101 to one of more of client devices 102. It further contemplated that configuration device 101 may be communicatively coupled to a remotely located database (not shown).
Discovery module 250 of configuration device 101 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for implementing a discovery mechanism for discovering new computer devices within the network and providing an initial deployment to any newly discovered computer devices. It is further contemplated that discovery module 250 may be used to provide an update mechanism for updating the discovered client devices 102.
The discovery requests may be multi-cast or broadcasted, or any variation thereof; it is contemplated that the specific implementation of IP addressing for discovery may be made taking into account the network management considerations, such as security and bandwidth concerns, of the network administrator or the relevant network administration policy. A discovery request may be sent out periodically until terminated at configuration device 101.
An update discovery request initiated at discovery module 250 may be sent out periodically until terminated at the configuration device 101, or until all the targeted (that is, targeted via an assigned group) client devices take an action in response to the discovery request. Configuration device 101 may be capable of identifying itself to other client devices 102 via a parameter setting, prior to sending out the discovery request.
Configuration module 260 of configuration device 101 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for storing various configuration files, or software components, and other related configuration information. However, it is also contemplated that the configuration files, software components and other related configuration information may be stored in specific memory 224, 226 locations of configuration device 101. The configuration files, software components and other related configuration or provisioning information, whether stored in configuration module 260 or other memory 224, 226 locations, may be specially designated and earmarked as sharable information within configurable client device 101, thus distinguishing them from other non-sharable information of configuration device 101. Other methods of ensuring that the sharable information of configuration device 101 is specially earmarked, and/ or segregated, for sharing and made accessible for sharing via the provisioning of components from among the sharable information, for download to client devices 102, will be apparent to practitioners of skill in the art.
The configuration files or software components to be provisioned in order to configure or reconfigure client devices 102 may include appropriate software drivers, software applications, application program interfaces, parameter settings, or even operating systems, including unique identifiers to identify an operating system or any versions thereof. Other configuration information provided in configuration module 260 may include, for example, configuration information related to the various groups to be assigned and managed by the configuration device 101, and components and data for respective configurations of client devices 102, including for configuration updates.
The remote database communicative coupled to configuration device 101 may be accessed, and used to update configuration device 101 via the GUI of configuration device 101, further employing a suitable web service interface, optionally. It would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the configuration device 101 may contain additional functions/elements/mechanisms other than those illustrated in Figure 2a.
With reference now to Figure 2b, an exemplary architecture of the functional subsystems of client device 102 within peer to peer communication network 100 is depicted. While significant commonality exists in functionality as described above with regard to configuration device 101, at least to the extent where configuration device 101 and client device 102 are considered peer devices operating in a local peer to peer communication network 100, some differences will be apparent in view of the following description, with regard to the embodiments depicted in Figure 3.
Device discovery module 203 of client device 102 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for detecting a discovery request initiated at the configuration device 101 and for establishing further communication therewith.
Download module 204 of client device 102 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware to accept downloads of selected components transmitted from configuration device 101, the components related to a respective configuration of client device 102. Download module 204 of the client device 102 may detect when the downloading of configuration components is finished, and may then launch installation module 205 for installing the components downloaded in a memory of client device 102.
Installation module 205 of client device 102 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for doing the actual installation of the components, and for reporting the progress of the installation to configuration device 101. This may involve copying files, launching a setup function to execute installation scripts, and performing other post-installation actions. The installation module 205 may process downloaded configuration components and may report success or failure on a component by component basis. When installation is completed, it may transfer the details of the installation log file for a particular computer device back to the configuration device 101.
Configuration device 101 in turn may then update a registry component at the remote database which tracks and stores such configuration information.
Figure 3 illustrates exemplary process steps involved in one embodiment for configuring or provisioning client devices 102 with appropriate components. It will become evident from the following disclosure that provisioning the appropriate components for client devices 102 refers to the particular selection of components which are associated with a desired custom configuration or functionality, to be downloaded for installation thereon, in order to create a client device 102 of desired functionality.
At step 302, a discovery request is generated at configuration device 101, the discovery requested targeted to any or all of the plurality of computer devices 102 in local peer to peer network 100.
At step 304, in response to the discovery request, a request for communication with the configuration device 101 is generated from at least one of the client devices 102. When the client devices 102 are discovered initially, they are identified as the "unassigned group" in the configuration device 101. Each discovered client device 102 in the unassigned group is subsequently assigned to one or more groups.
At step 306, communication is established between the configuration device 101 and the at least one client device 102. Client device 102 may, for example, communicate to configuration device 101 an informational element for unique identification of the client device. The informational element may be such as: a serial number, an operating system identifier, a device model number, IP addresses, and a terminal name. Once the client device 102 responds to the discovery request and communicates its information, it may be added into a management list at configuration module 260 of configuration device 101, or in the remote database.
At step 308, at configuration device 101, a group is assigned to the at least one client device 102. In one exemplary embodiment, the discovered client device 102, formerly in the unassigned group, is now assigned to one or more groups based on its pre-existing hardware and/ or firmware configuration.
The assignment of client device 102 to a group allows one or more discovered client devices 102 to be targeted for configuring, in accordance with a pre-defined selection of configuration components uniquely associated with that given group. In one example, the group can be used as a functional unit that ties, or associates, a set of components (e.g., configuration files) or data to a set of client devices 102. In this example, a set of components is downloaded to the entire group of client devices 102 simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. Any given configuration component may be associated with zero to any number of groups. The assigned group may also be associated with a predefined ordering of configuration components, for downloading the configuration of components according to the predefined order.
In another variation, it is contemplated that, at the graphical user interface (GUI) display of the configuration device 101, the configuration of components in the predefined order for downloading may be displayed, and then that predefined order may be modified by the operator or administrator.
At step 310, at the configuration device 101, the unique configuration of components for provisioning via download to client device(s) 102 is identified, the configuration of components being associated with the group assigned. Once a given client device 102 is assigned to a respective group(s), configuration device 101 is then able to download the associated configuration components so that the client devices 102 may configured, or reconfigured, on a group basis.
At step 312, the associated configuration of components is downloaded only to those client device(s) 102 belonging to the assigned group. The configuration of components may be downloaded onto the client device 102 via the communication subsystem 211, an auxiliary I/O subsystem 228, serial port 230, USB port 242, short-range communications subsystem 240, or any other suitable subsystem, for execution by the microprocessor 238.
At step 314, the configuration of components downloaded is installed into a memory of the client device(s) 102.
At step 316, the results of the configuration component installations, including successful component installations and failed component installations, may be reported to configuration device 101.
Figure 4 illustrates a further variation of the exemplary process of Figure 3, whereby the configuration components of the client device in a group may be updated. For instance, some or all client devices 102 assigned to a given group may be moved to another group by sending a new discovery request, an update request, at step 418, to initiate the process. At step 420, configuration update device 101 may assign the new group desired, and identifies an updated configuration of components at step 422, for download and installation at step 424. It is also contemplated that, for updates, the client devices 102 may comprise an update detection module (not shown) for detecting discovery requests for updates.
Although a mobile computer device has been used to establish a context for disclosure herein, the invention is contemplated as having wider applicability for computing device configuration or reconfiguration in the context of field operations.
Furthermore, the disclosure herein has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments;
however, varying modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
As used herein, the term "computer device" is intended to comprise any computing device which can be configured for use in different manners and which can be communicated with through a computer network. In most circumstances, it is contemplated that the present invention will be of most interest to networks containing mobile computer devices, such as handheld terminals, personal data assistants, smartphones, data capture devices such as barcode scanners, etc. However, the present invention is not so limited and it is contemplated that the invention can be advantageously employed in other configurations and/or circumstances as will occur to those of skill in the art. Similarly, as used herein the term "peer to peer network" is intended to comprise any network which allows a computing device to communicate with one or more other computing devices without requiring the intervention of a centralized control device, although such devices can be present, if desired, as will occur to those of skill in the art. Examples of such networks can include, without limitation, ad hoc WiFi, Bluetooth or other networks.
Referring now more particularly to the accompanying figures, Figure 1 depicts an example of a peer to peer network communication system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention where at least one master, or configuration, device 101 discovers and manages configuration of a plurality of client computer devices 102 within a given locality. The network system 100 of Figure 1, which may be a wireless network, forms a closed local network where at least one computer device, such as configuration device 101, remotely discovers and manages a plurality of computer devices 102.
Configuration device 101 may communicate with the plurality of computer devices 102 using various communication schemes, including, but not limited to, wireless connections via a secure or non-secure Bluetooth (TM), Wi-Fi WLAN based on IEEE 802.11 standards, Zigbee, Z-Wave and the like. Computers 101, 102 will be referred to variously and interchangeably as a computer computing device, a computer device, a mobile computer, or a computing device in the disclosure herein.
Figure 2a illustrates an exemplary architecture of the functional subsystems of configuration device computer 101. The computer 101 may have the capability of communicating at least data, and possibly both data and audio, to and from devices as well as data acquisition sources within a communication network.
Computer 101 may include wired or wireless communication capability. In the wireless configuration, computer 102 typically includes radio frequency (RF) communication subsystem 211, which includes a receiver 212, a transmitter 214, and associated components, such as one or more embedded or internal antenna elements 216 and 218, and a processing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 220. As will be apparent to those skilled in field of communications, the particular design of the RF
communication subsystem 211 depends on the specific communication network in which computer device 101 is intended to operate, but may include communication functionalities such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), Wi-Fi WLAN
based on IEEE
802.11 standards, Zigbee, Z-Wave and the like.
The computer device 101 includes a microprocessor 238 which controls general operation of the device 101. The microprocessor 238 also interacts with functional device subsystems such as screen display module 222, a flash memory 224, random access memory (RAM) 226, auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems 228, serial port 230, keyboard module 232, speaker 234, microphone 236, short-range communications subsystem 240 such as BluetoothTM for example, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) expansion port 242 for peripheral. The computer device 101 may include a power source such as battery module 210 which may also be removable and replaceable from the computer device. The computer device 101 may also include a positioning device 244, such as a GPS receiver for example, for receiving positioning information.
Still with regard to Figure 2a, operating system software used by the microprocessor 238 may be stored in a persistent store such as the flash memory 224, which may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM 226.
The microprocessor 238, in addition to its operating system functions, enables execution of software applications on the computer device 101. A predetermined set of applications, which control basic device operations, or even more customized, advanced device operations, may be installed on the configuration device 101 during its manufacture, such as during the components configuration process described herein. These operations typically include data and voice communication applications, for example.
Display screen module 222 of computer device 101 may be used to visually present an application's graphical user interface (GUI) to the user via a display screen.
The display screen module 222 may employ a touch screen display, in which case the user can manipulate application data by modifying information on the GUI using direct touches by finger. Depending on the type of computer device 101, the user may have access to other types of input devices, such as, for example, a scroll wheel, trackball, light pen or touch sensitive screen.
A graphical user interface presented at display screen module 222 of configuration device 101 may enable an operator or administrator to interact therewith. For example, an administrator may manage the processes of having configuration device 101 being capable of identification as a configuration device using a parameter setting, initiating discovery, establishing communication with client devices in the peer to peer network, managing groups (including assigning groups, modifying groups, and deleting groups), and the selecting the configuration of components and data to be downloaded from configuration device 101 to one of more of client devices 102. It further contemplated that configuration device 101 may be communicatively coupled to a remotely located database (not shown).
Discovery module 250 of configuration device 101 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for implementing a discovery mechanism for discovering new computer devices within the network and providing an initial deployment to any newly discovered computer devices. It is further contemplated that discovery module 250 may be used to provide an update mechanism for updating the discovered client devices 102.
The discovery requests may be multi-cast or broadcasted, or any variation thereof; it is contemplated that the specific implementation of IP addressing for discovery may be made taking into account the network management considerations, such as security and bandwidth concerns, of the network administrator or the relevant network administration policy. A discovery request may be sent out periodically until terminated at configuration device 101.
An update discovery request initiated at discovery module 250 may be sent out periodically until terminated at the configuration device 101, or until all the targeted (that is, targeted via an assigned group) client devices take an action in response to the discovery request. Configuration device 101 may be capable of identifying itself to other client devices 102 via a parameter setting, prior to sending out the discovery request.
Configuration module 260 of configuration device 101 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for storing various configuration files, or software components, and other related configuration information. However, it is also contemplated that the configuration files, software components and other related configuration information may be stored in specific memory 224, 226 locations of configuration device 101. The configuration files, software components and other related configuration or provisioning information, whether stored in configuration module 260 or other memory 224, 226 locations, may be specially designated and earmarked as sharable information within configurable client device 101, thus distinguishing them from other non-sharable information of configuration device 101. Other methods of ensuring that the sharable information of configuration device 101 is specially earmarked, and/ or segregated, for sharing and made accessible for sharing via the provisioning of components from among the sharable information, for download to client devices 102, will be apparent to practitioners of skill in the art.
The configuration files or software components to be provisioned in order to configure or reconfigure client devices 102 may include appropriate software drivers, software applications, application program interfaces, parameter settings, or even operating systems, including unique identifiers to identify an operating system or any versions thereof. Other configuration information provided in configuration module 260 may include, for example, configuration information related to the various groups to be assigned and managed by the configuration device 101, and components and data for respective configurations of client devices 102, including for configuration updates.
The remote database communicative coupled to configuration device 101 may be accessed, and used to update configuration device 101 via the GUI of configuration device 101, further employing a suitable web service interface, optionally. It would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the configuration device 101 may contain additional functions/elements/mechanisms other than those illustrated in Figure 2a.
With reference now to Figure 2b, an exemplary architecture of the functional subsystems of client device 102 within peer to peer communication network 100 is depicted. While significant commonality exists in functionality as described above with regard to configuration device 101, at least to the extent where configuration device 101 and client device 102 are considered peer devices operating in a local peer to peer communication network 100, some differences will be apparent in view of the following description, with regard to the embodiments depicted in Figure 3.
Device discovery module 203 of client device 102 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for detecting a discovery request initiated at the configuration device 101 and for establishing further communication therewith.
Download module 204 of client device 102 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware to accept downloads of selected components transmitted from configuration device 101, the components related to a respective configuration of client device 102. Download module 204 of the client device 102 may detect when the downloading of configuration components is finished, and may then launch installation module 205 for installing the components downloaded in a memory of client device 102.
Installation module 205 of client device 102 may comprise any combination of software, firmware and hardware for doing the actual installation of the components, and for reporting the progress of the installation to configuration device 101. This may involve copying files, launching a setup function to execute installation scripts, and performing other post-installation actions. The installation module 205 may process downloaded configuration components and may report success or failure on a component by component basis. When installation is completed, it may transfer the details of the installation log file for a particular computer device back to the configuration device 101.
Configuration device 101 in turn may then update a registry component at the remote database which tracks and stores such configuration information.
Figure 3 illustrates exemplary process steps involved in one embodiment for configuring or provisioning client devices 102 with appropriate components. It will become evident from the following disclosure that provisioning the appropriate components for client devices 102 refers to the particular selection of components which are associated with a desired custom configuration or functionality, to be downloaded for installation thereon, in order to create a client device 102 of desired functionality.
At step 302, a discovery request is generated at configuration device 101, the discovery requested targeted to any or all of the plurality of computer devices 102 in local peer to peer network 100.
At step 304, in response to the discovery request, a request for communication with the configuration device 101 is generated from at least one of the client devices 102. When the client devices 102 are discovered initially, they are identified as the "unassigned group" in the configuration device 101. Each discovered client device 102 in the unassigned group is subsequently assigned to one or more groups.
At step 306, communication is established between the configuration device 101 and the at least one client device 102. Client device 102 may, for example, communicate to configuration device 101 an informational element for unique identification of the client device. The informational element may be such as: a serial number, an operating system identifier, a device model number, IP addresses, and a terminal name. Once the client device 102 responds to the discovery request and communicates its information, it may be added into a management list at configuration module 260 of configuration device 101, or in the remote database.
At step 308, at configuration device 101, a group is assigned to the at least one client device 102. In one exemplary embodiment, the discovered client device 102, formerly in the unassigned group, is now assigned to one or more groups based on its pre-existing hardware and/ or firmware configuration.
The assignment of client device 102 to a group allows one or more discovered client devices 102 to be targeted for configuring, in accordance with a pre-defined selection of configuration components uniquely associated with that given group. In one example, the group can be used as a functional unit that ties, or associates, a set of components (e.g., configuration files) or data to a set of client devices 102. In this example, a set of components is downloaded to the entire group of client devices 102 simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. Any given configuration component may be associated with zero to any number of groups. The assigned group may also be associated with a predefined ordering of configuration components, for downloading the configuration of components according to the predefined order.
In another variation, it is contemplated that, at the graphical user interface (GUI) display of the configuration device 101, the configuration of components in the predefined order for downloading may be displayed, and then that predefined order may be modified by the operator or administrator.
At step 310, at the configuration device 101, the unique configuration of components for provisioning via download to client device(s) 102 is identified, the configuration of components being associated with the group assigned. Once a given client device 102 is assigned to a respective group(s), configuration device 101 is then able to download the associated configuration components so that the client devices 102 may configured, or reconfigured, on a group basis.
At step 312, the associated configuration of components is downloaded only to those client device(s) 102 belonging to the assigned group. The configuration of components may be downloaded onto the client device 102 via the communication subsystem 211, an auxiliary I/O subsystem 228, serial port 230, USB port 242, short-range communications subsystem 240, or any other suitable subsystem, for execution by the microprocessor 238.
At step 314, the configuration of components downloaded is installed into a memory of the client device(s) 102.
At step 316, the results of the configuration component installations, including successful component installations and failed component installations, may be reported to configuration device 101.
Figure 4 illustrates a further variation of the exemplary process of Figure 3, whereby the configuration components of the client device in a group may be updated. For instance, some or all client devices 102 assigned to a given group may be moved to another group by sending a new discovery request, an update request, at step 418, to initiate the process. At step 420, configuration update device 101 may assign the new group desired, and identifies an updated configuration of components at step 422, for download and installation at step 424. It is also contemplated that, for updates, the client devices 102 may comprise an update detection module (not shown) for detecting discovery requests for updates.
Although a mobile computer device has been used to establish a context for disclosure herein, the invention is contemplated as having wider applicability for computing device configuration or reconfiguration in the context of field operations.
Furthermore, the disclosure herein has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments;
however, varying modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (15)
1. A method for configuring a plurality of handheld client devices, each having an identical hardware configuration, by a handheld configuration device for managing the handheld client devices in a peer to peer communication local network including the plurality of handheld client devices and the handheld configuration device, the method comprising' generating a discovery request at the handheld configuration device, the discovery request targeted to the plurality of handheld client devices;
periodically transmitting the discovery request until each of the plurality of handheld client devices responds to the discovery request;
generating a request for communication with the handheld configuration device from each of the plurality of handheld client devices in response to the discovery request;
establishing communication between the handheld configuration device and each of the plurality of handheld client devices;
assigning a group to each of the plurality of handheld client devices based on at least one of its pre-existing hardware and firmware configuration, designating information stored in the handheld configuration device as at least one of sharable information and non-sharable information, wherein the sharable information comprises configuration information for downloading to the plurality of handheld client devices, identifying, at the handheld configuration device, a selection of components from among the sharable information, the selection of components associated with the assigned group and for downloading to the plurality of handheld client devices;
uploading, by the handheld configuration device to each of the plurality of handheld client devices, for installation at each of the plurality of handheld client devices, the selection of components associated with the assigned group; and installing the selection of components at each of the plurality of handheld client devices.
periodically transmitting the discovery request until each of the plurality of handheld client devices responds to the discovery request;
generating a request for communication with the handheld configuration device from each of the plurality of handheld client devices in response to the discovery request;
establishing communication between the handheld configuration device and each of the plurality of handheld client devices;
assigning a group to each of the plurality of handheld client devices based on at least one of its pre-existing hardware and firmware configuration, designating information stored in the handheld configuration device as at least one of sharable information and non-sharable information, wherein the sharable information comprises configuration information for downloading to the plurality of handheld client devices, identifying, at the handheld configuration device, a selection of components from among the sharable information, the selection of components associated with the assigned group and for downloading to the plurality of handheld client devices;
uploading, by the handheld configuration device to each of the plurality of handheld client devices, for installation at each of the plurality of handheld client devices, the selection of components associated with the assigned group; and installing the selection of components at each of the plurality of handheld client devices.
2 The method of claim 1 further comprising reporting to the handheld configuration device the results of installing the selection of components, including successful component installations and failed component installations
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the assigned group is associated with a predefined ordering of configuration components, and downloading comprises downloading the selection of components according to the predefined order.
4 The method of claim 3 further comprising installing, at the handheld client device, the selection of components according to the predefined order of downloading.
The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying, at a graphical user interface (GUI) display of the handheld configuration device, the configuration of components in the predefined order for downloading, and modifying the predefined order prior to downloading.
6 The method of claim 1 wherein the selection of components downloaded includes a software component.
7 The method of claim 6 wherein the software component downloaded include a software component file selected from the group of software components consisting of.
a software driver, a software application, a portion of a software application, an application program interface, an operating system version, and an operating system identifier.
a software driver, a software application, a portion of a software application, an application program interface, an operating system version, and an operating system identifier.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of establishing communications between the handheld configuration device and each of the plurality of client devices further comprises communicating an informational element for unique identification of the each of the plurality of client devices, the informational element selected from the group of informational elements consisting of a serial number, an operating system identifier, a device model number, IP addresses, and a terminal name
9 The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by each of the plurality of handheld client devices, an installation log file to the handheld configuration device when the installation of the selection components is completed, wherein in response to receiving the installation tog file the handheld configuration device updates a registry component at a remote database,
The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and communicating an update request to at least one of the plurality of handheld client devices to assign a new group and identify an updated selection of components for the at least one of the plurality of handheld client devices.
11. A handheld configuration device comprising:
a discovery module comprising a radio frequency (RF) communication subsystem for generating and communicating a discovery request to a plurality of handheld client devices each having an identical hardware configuration in a peer to peer communication local network that includes the handheld configuration device, the discovery module periodically transmitting the discovery request until each of the plurality of handheld client devices responds to the discovery request; and a configuration module comprising a microprocessor for:
assigning a group to each of the plurality of handheld client devices based on at least one of its pre-existing hardware and firmware configuration;
designating information stored in the handheld configuration device as at least one of sharable information and non-sharable information, wherein the sharable information comprises configuration information for downloading to the plurality of handheld client devices;
identifying a selection of components from the sharable information for download to each of the plurality of handheld client devices, the selection of components associated with the assigned group; and uploading the selection of components to each of the plurality of handheld client devices of the assigned group
a discovery module comprising a radio frequency (RF) communication subsystem for generating and communicating a discovery request to a plurality of handheld client devices each having an identical hardware configuration in a peer to peer communication local network that includes the handheld configuration device, the discovery module periodically transmitting the discovery request until each of the plurality of handheld client devices responds to the discovery request; and a configuration module comprising a microprocessor for:
assigning a group to each of the plurality of handheld client devices based on at least one of its pre-existing hardware and firmware configuration;
designating information stored in the handheld configuration device as at least one of sharable information and non-sharable information, wherein the sharable information comprises configuration information for downloading to the plurality of handheld client devices;
identifying a selection of components from the sharable information for download to each of the plurality of handheld client devices, the selection of components associated with the assigned group; and uploading the selection of components to each of the plurality of handheld client devices of the assigned group
12. The handheld configuration device of claim 11 further comprising a graphical user interface display screen for displaying the identified selection of components
13. The handheld configuration device of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of handheld client devices comprises an update detection module for detecting an update request targeted to a group assigned by the handheld configuration device
14 The handheld configuration device of claim 11, wherein each of the plurahty of handheld client devices comprises a device discovery module that communicates to the handheld configuration device an informational element for unique identification of each of the plurality of handheld client devices, the informational element selected from the group of informational elements consisting of. a serial number, an operating system identifier, a device model number, lP addresses, and a terminal name.
15, The handheld configuration device of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of handheld client devices transmit an installation log file to the handheld configuration device when an installation of the selection components is completed, further wherein in response to receiving the installation log file the handheld configuration device updates a registry component at a remote database.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/765,977 US8990361B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2010-04-23 | Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration |
US12/765,977 | 2010-04-23 | ||
PCT/CA2011/000433 WO2011130829A1 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2011-04-18 | Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2794065A1 CA2794065A1 (en) | 2011-10-27 |
CA2794065C true CA2794065C (en) | 2018-04-03 |
Family
ID=44816734
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA2794065A Active CA2794065C (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2011-04-18 | Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8990361B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2561692A4 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101888704B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102860054B (en) |
CA (1) | CA2794065C (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011130829A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8990361B2 (en) * | 2010-04-23 | 2015-03-24 | Psion Inc. | Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration |
EP2403216B1 (en) * | 2010-06-30 | 2014-03-05 | Alcatel Lucent | Method for installation of an application |
US8667148B1 (en) * | 2010-10-04 | 2014-03-04 | Netblazr Inc. | Minimal effort network subscriber registration |
US20120254859A1 (en) * | 2011-03-31 | 2012-10-04 | Sony Corporation | Method and apparatus for downloading software updates to place user terminal into a desired configuration state |
US9565708B2 (en) * | 2011-05-20 | 2017-02-07 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Auto-connect in a peer-to-peer network |
US9934044B2 (en) | 2012-03-30 | 2018-04-03 | Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | Methods for customizing an operating system at an information handling device |
US9182970B2 (en) * | 2012-03-30 | 2015-11-10 | Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | Methods for creating device preload via manufacturing and cloud content |
US9754327B2 (en) * | 2012-07-24 | 2017-09-05 | Adobe Systems Incorporated | Method and apparatus for configuring social networking site sharing functions |
CN103577381B (en) * | 2012-07-30 | 2017-08-25 | 华为技术有限公司 | A kind of equipment room shares the collocation method and system of input unit |
US9565623B2 (en) * | 2014-08-12 | 2017-02-07 | Digi International Inc. | Systems and methods for ordering candidates for wireless network association |
JP6561656B2 (en) * | 2015-07-29 | 2019-08-21 | 株式会社リコー | Terminal and multicast address distribution server |
US10643195B2 (en) * | 2015-08-11 | 2020-05-05 | Catalina Marketing Corporation | Self-configuring networked media hub devices with automated configuration and failover recovery of peers |
US10026401B1 (en) * | 2015-12-28 | 2018-07-17 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Naming devices via voice commands |
CN106055340A (en) * | 2016-06-12 | 2016-10-26 | 北京金山安全软件有限公司 | Driver control method and device |
KR102489729B1 (en) * | 2018-02-07 | 2023-01-18 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device for connecting external devices based on connection information and operating method thereof |
CN110347433A (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2019-10-18 | 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 | Method for parameter configuration, device and display device |
CN111478978A (en) * | 2020-05-18 | 2020-07-31 | 北京时代凌宇科技股份有限公司 | Configuration device and configuration method of L oRa node equipment |
Family Cites Families (38)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6389464B1 (en) * | 1997-06-27 | 2002-05-14 | Cornet Technology, Inc. | Device management system for managing standards-compliant and non-compliant network elements using standard management protocols and a universal site server which is configurable from remote locations via internet browser technology |
US20020049693A1 (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2002-04-25 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Batch configuration of network devices |
US7039688B2 (en) * | 1998-11-12 | 2006-05-02 | Ricoh Co., Ltd. | Method and apparatus for automatic network configuration |
US6801507B1 (en) | 1999-07-27 | 2004-10-05 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Device discovery and configuration in a home network |
US7240106B2 (en) * | 2001-04-25 | 2007-07-03 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | System and method for remote discovery and configuration of a network device |
US7698389B2 (en) * | 2001-05-16 | 2010-04-13 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Device configuration in a distributed environment |
AU2002326117A1 (en) * | 2001-08-15 | 2003-03-03 | Ariel Noy | Service provisioning in a distributed network management architecture |
US7159016B2 (en) * | 2001-12-18 | 2007-01-02 | Avaya Technology Corp. | Method and apparatus for configuring an endpoint device to a computer network |
US20040006586A1 (en) * | 2002-04-23 | 2004-01-08 | Secure Resolutions, Inc. | Distributed server software distribution |
US7178144B2 (en) | 2002-04-23 | 2007-02-13 | Secure Resolutions, Inc. | Software distribution via stages |
US7020706B2 (en) * | 2002-06-17 | 2006-03-28 | Bmc Software, Inc. | Method and system for automatically updating multiple servers |
US7013331B2 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2006-03-14 | Nokia, Inc. | Automated bulk configuration of network devices |
GB2399189B (en) * | 2003-03-05 | 2006-07-19 | Quazal Technologies Inc | Coherent data sharing |
US20040181575A1 (en) * | 2003-03-11 | 2004-09-16 | Visual Circuits Corporation | Method and apparatus for providing peer-to-peer push using broadcast query |
US7418486B2 (en) | 2003-06-06 | 2008-08-26 | Microsoft Corporation | Automatic discovery and configuration of external network devices |
US7685288B2 (en) * | 2003-06-30 | 2010-03-23 | Microsoft Corporation | Ad-hoc service discovery protocol |
US7676802B2 (en) * | 2003-07-23 | 2010-03-09 | Nokia Corporation | System, and associated method, for downloading an application |
JP4282426B2 (en) * | 2003-09-29 | 2009-06-24 | 株式会社東芝 | Electronic equipment and programs applied to the equipment |
CA2573214C (en) * | 2004-07-09 | 2013-06-11 | Codemate Aps | Peer of a peer-to-peer network and such network |
US8880664B1 (en) * | 2004-07-26 | 2014-11-04 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method and apparatus for generating a network profile and device profile |
US7673325B2 (en) * | 2005-02-01 | 2010-03-02 | Microsoft Corporation | Configuration of WiFi network parameters |
US20060258342A1 (en) * | 2005-04-21 | 2006-11-16 | Kenny Fok | Methods and apparatus for providing wireless device-centric control of an external computing device |
US20070094323A1 (en) * | 2005-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | Smith Jeffrey C | Managed resource sharing method and apparatus |
US7378966B2 (en) * | 2006-01-04 | 2008-05-27 | Microsoft Corporation | RFID device groups |
US20070208837A1 (en) * | 2006-02-22 | 2007-09-06 | Lifen Tian | Device management system for processing client requests |
US20080222236A1 (en) * | 2006-11-27 | 2008-09-11 | Christopher James Nason | Method and system for processing data on a plurality of communication devices |
US20090228868A1 (en) * | 2008-03-04 | 2009-09-10 | Max Drukman | Batch configuration of multiple target devices |
US9037686B2 (en) * | 2008-06-24 | 2015-05-19 | International Business Machines Corporation | Portable device integrated with a provisioning application to aid in discovery of non-network attached resources and provide suggestions for physical setup of the resources based on data center needs |
KR100979201B1 (en) * | 2008-09-16 | 2010-09-01 | 한국전자통신연구원 | Mobile terminals and Method for updating software thereof |
US8612604B2 (en) | 2008-10-17 | 2013-12-17 | Psion, Inc. | System and method for server initiation beacon |
US20100162374A1 (en) * | 2008-12-19 | 2010-06-24 | Nair Jiji U | Cost effective updating of mobile computing devices and communicating with mobile computing devices |
US9538355B2 (en) * | 2008-12-29 | 2017-01-03 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Method of targeted discovery of devices in a network |
CN101694621B (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2015-12-16 | 中兴通讯股份有限公司 | A kind of method of update mobile terminal software and mobile terminal |
US9146725B2 (en) * | 2009-11-04 | 2015-09-29 | Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | Propagating firmware updates in a peer-to-peer network environment |
GB2488268B (en) * | 2009-12-10 | 2017-10-04 | Ibm | A method and system for managing configurations of system management agents in a distributed environment |
CN102118263B (en) * | 2010-01-06 | 2015-05-20 | 中兴通讯股份有限公司 | Method and system for distribution of configuration information |
US8990361B2 (en) * | 2010-04-23 | 2015-03-24 | Psion Inc. | Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration |
US8997087B2 (en) * | 2010-04-23 | 2015-03-31 | Psion Inc. | Method and system for device configuration and customization during manufacturing process |
-
2010
- 2010-04-23 US US12/765,977 patent/US8990361B2/en active Active
-
2011
- 2011-04-18 KR KR1020127030627A patent/KR101888704B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-04-18 CA CA2794065A patent/CA2794065C/en active Active
- 2011-04-18 WO PCT/CA2011/000433 patent/WO2011130829A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-04-18 EP EP11771434.5A patent/EP2561692A4/en not_active Ceased
- 2011-04-18 CN CN201180020555.7A patent/CN102860054B/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8990361B2 (en) | 2015-03-24 |
WO2011130829A1 (en) | 2011-10-27 |
CN102860054B (en) | 2016-02-03 |
KR101888704B1 (en) | 2018-08-14 |
EP2561692A1 (en) | 2013-02-27 |
US20110264772A1 (en) | 2011-10-27 |
EP2561692A4 (en) | 2014-01-15 |
KR20130094208A (en) | 2013-08-23 |
CN102860054A (en) | 2013-01-02 |
CA2794065A1 (en) | 2011-10-27 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2794065C (en) | Method and system for proximity-based, peer-initiated device configuration | |
US8997087B2 (en) | Method and system for device configuration and customization during manufacturing process | |
US10791458B2 (en) | Transferring information to a mobile device | |
US9436456B2 (en) | System and method for management of software updates at a vehicle computing system | |
US9294575B1 (en) | Transmitting appliance-specific content to a user device | |
CN114124930B (en) | Configuration file transmission method, terminal, server and storage medium | |
CN103023681B (en) | Smart home control device, update method | |
US9064117B1 (en) | Mobile provisioning device | |
US9223559B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus, electronic control unit, information processing method, and program | |
US20120135683A1 (en) | System and method for configuring an access list for bluetooth devices | |
US9038060B2 (en) | Automatically installing operating system specific to a detected network | |
WO2019037724A1 (en) | Method for upgrading application of mobile terminal, storage device, and mobile terminal | |
CN103283257A (en) | Apparatus and method for remotely controlling peripheral devices in mobile communication terminal | |
CN107526605B (en) | Method and device for realizing application program loading service assembly | |
KR20140023505A (en) | Home appliance control method and system for controlling appliances of home network | |
KR20230096120A (en) | Apparatus, method and system for controlling provisioning of mobile devices | |
CN103916846A (en) | Terminal application updating method, system and device | |
WO2015106529A1 (en) | Resource management method and device for terminal system | |
KR20180050001A (en) | Firmware upgrade system and method for IoT | |
CN113094064A (en) | Gateway software module upgrading method, device, equipment and storage medium | |
KR101083523B1 (en) | Method of upgrading firmware and system for the same | |
CN117908938B (en) | Batch equipment upgrading method, device, medium and equipment | |
CN104683571A (en) | Universal control method for intelligent mobile equipment | |
CN114442537A (en) | Device intelligentization method, device and readable storage medium | |
KR20140066653A (en) | Device detecting method using bluetooth |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20150416 |